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Bi Ss 12

The training rule on bad behavior

12. Pāpasamācārasikkhāpada

from: The Nuns’ Analysis

The chapter on offenses entailing suspension

The training rule on bad behavior

Origin story

At one time the Buddha was staying at Sāvatthī in the Jeta Grove, Anāthapiṇḍika’s Monastery. At that time the nuns who were the pupils of the nun Thullanandā were socializing and behaving badly, had a bad reputation, and were harassing the Sangha of nuns and hiding each other’s offenses.

The nuns of few desires complained and criticized them, “How can nuns behave in this way?” … “Is it true, monks, that nuns are behaving like this?”

“It’s true, Sir.”

The Buddha rebuked them … “How can nuns behave in this way? This will affect people’s confidence …” … “And, monks, the nuns should recite this training rule like this:

Final ruling

‘If nuns socialize, behave badly, have a bad reputation, are notorious, harass the Sangha of nuns, and hide each other’s offenses, then the nuns should correct them like this: “Sisters, you socialize, behave badly, have a bad reputation, are notorious, harass the Sangha of nuns, and hide each other’s offenses. Be secluded, Venerables. The Sangha praises seclusion for the Sisters.” If those nuns still continue as before, the nuns should press them up to three times to make them stop. If they then stop, all is well. If they do not stop, then after the third announcement those nuns too have committed an offense entailing sending away and suspension.’”

Definitions

Nuns: what is meant is that they are fully ordained. Socialize: they socialize with improper bodily and verbal action. Behave badly: having bad behavior. Have a bad reputation: a bad reputation has spread about them. Are notorious: they make a living by means of a bad and wrong livelihood. Harass the Sangha of nuns: they object on each other’s behalf when a legal procedure is being carried out against them. Hide each other’s offenses: they hide one another’s offenses. Them: those nuns who socialize. The nuns:

other nuns who see it or hear about it. They should correct them like this:

“Sisters, you socialize, behave badly, have a bad reputation, are notorious, harass the Sangha of nuns, and hide each other’s offenses. Be secluded, Venerables. The Sangha praises seclusion for the Sisters.”

And they should correct them a second and a third time. If they stop, all is well. If they do not stop, they commit an offense of wrong conduct. If those who hear about it do not say anything, they commit an offense of wrong conduct.

Those nuns, even if they have to be pulled into the Sangha, should be corrected like this:

“Sisters, you socialize, behave badly, have a bad reputation, are notorious, harass the Sangha of nuns, and hide each other’s offenses. Be secluded, Venerables. The Sangha praises seclusion for the Sisters.”

They should correct them a second and a third time. If they stop, all is well. If they do not stop, they commit an offense of wrong conduct. Should press them:

“And, monks, they should be pressed like this. A competent and capable nun should inform the Sangha:

‘Please, Venerables, I ask the Sangha to listen. The nuns so-and-so and so-and-so socialize, behave badly, have a bad reputation, are notorious, harass the Sangha of nuns, and hide each other’s offenses. And they keep on doing it. If the Sangha is ready, it should press them to make them stop. This is the motion.

Please, Venerables, I ask the Sangha to listen. The nuns so-and-so and so-and-so socialize, behave badly, have a bad reputation, are notorious, harass the Sangha of nuns, and hide each other’s offenses. And they keep on doing it. The Sangha presses them to make them stop. Any nun who approves of pressing the nuns so-and-so and so-and-so to make them stop should remain silent. Any nun who doesn’t approve should speak up.

For the second time I speak on this matter … For the third time I speak on this matter …

The Sangha has pressed the nuns so-and-so and so-and-so to stop. The Sangha approves and is therefore silent. I’ll remember it thus.’”

After the motion, they commit an offense of wrong conduct. After each of the first two announcements, they commit a serious offense. When the last announcement is finished, they commit an offense entailing suspension. If they commit the offense entailing suspension, the offense of wrong conduct and the serious offenses are annulled. Two or three may be pressed together, but not more than that. Those nuns too: this is said with reference to the preceding offenses. After the third announcement: there is an offense when they have been pressed for the third time, not as soon as the misconduct has been committed. Entailing sending away: they are sent away from the Sangha. Suspension: … Therefore, too, it is called an offense entailing suspension.

Permutations

If it is a legitimate legal procedure, and they perceive it as such, and they do not stop, they commit an offense entailing suspension. If it is a legitimate legal procedure, but they are unsure of it, and they do not stop, they commit an offense entailing suspension. If it is a legitimate legal procedure, but they perceive it as illegitimate, and they do not stop, they commit an offense entailing suspension.

If it is an illegitimate legal procedure, but they perceive it as legitimate, they commit an offense of wrong conduct. If it is an illegitimate legal procedure, but they are unsure of it, they commit an offense of wrong conduct. If it is an illegitimate legal procedure, and they perceive it as such, they commit an offense of wrong conduct.

Non-offenses

There is no offense: if they have not been pressed; if they stop; if they are insane; if they are the first offenders.

The twelfth offense entailing suspension is finished.

Translation: English (Bhikkhu Brahmali). Source: SuttaCentral / Bilara (public domain, CC0).

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